Nyaruguru farmers to benefit from the launched Agriculture Community Centre

The Governor of the Southern province together with Korean Ambassador to Rwanda, on Tuesday, August 14, 2018 inaugurated Nyaruguru Agriculture Community Centre which will equip local farmers with required agricultural skills and at the same time it will contribute to the increased income to farmers.

The $ 5 Million Nyaruguru Integrated Rural Development Project led to the increased income among farmers and construction of Community Agriculture Centre.

The Centre was constructed after the farmers started to record increased harvests of Irish potatoes and maize produce.

The Centre construction also was financed by the Korea Government through Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).

At the official launch of the Centre which took place in Kibeho Sector, Mubuga Cell, farmers and officials commended President Paul Kagame of Rwanda for the good relations with International partners adding that “From the Good relations with Korea Government now this is the results that we are launching today.”

Among the components of the launched centre include a well equipped agricultural Community service Centre accommodating the Maize factory, Agricultural education facility which will be used to train farmers, offices furniture among others.

Speaking to Topafricanews.com, Dr. Nam, The Project Manager said that in 2014 the Korea Government through Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) started the Agriculture Project in Nyaruguru to help famers increase productivity and improve living conditions among the community.

Dr. Nam added that “Apart from the constructed Centre, through KOICA we constructed the 11 Km feeder roads to connect farmers to the market, and we usually conduct also the capacity building activities where we educate and train people especially in Agriculture sector.”

In the Meantime, the Mayor of Nyaruguru District, Habitegeko Francis commended the Korean Government for the mutual and participatory approach used during the design and implementation of the Project.

Habitegeko said “They came and we debated together on the contents of the project. We asked them to clarify how our people will gain from this project and after all those stages, we started working together on the implementation and now here are some results.”

Statistics show that since the start of the project, the seasonal agricultural harvests have increased comparing to previous years.

Habiyambere Jean Claude, President of JYAMBERE MUHINZI Kibeho Cooperative said that “For instance the number of tones harvested on one hectare has increased from 1.5 tones of maize to over 4 tones of produce as current statistics show.”

Also the farmers managed to multiply over 140 tomes of Irish potatoes with the introduction of Kinigi variety which is normally known to be grown in the Northern part of Rwanda specifically in Musanze District.

At least over 120 Hectares of marshlands were exploited through the Project

Through the Nyaruguru Integrated Agricultural Project, KOICA also donated 350 cows to support Girinka Program which is a cattle stocking programme that targets the most vulnerable among communities.

The Programme was launched by President Paul Kagame in 2007 and is implemented country wide.

Also through the project, local farmers have travelled from Rwanda to Korea to get trained on various and modernized agricultural techniques which are now being used in Nyaruguru District.

Kayijamahe Francois Xavier narrated how he and other farmers have benefited from the Agricultural study tour held in Korea saying that “As you see me here, I have gone to Korea to learn about best practices in Agriculture.”

“We have learnt a lot from our Korean friends and after returning to Rwanda we started using acquired skills which saw the increased number of harvests.”

During her Speech, the Southern Province Governor, Mureshyankwano Marie Rose called up on residents to take this opportunity and use the centre and act based on the agricultural advices from the Agronomists and other agriculture technical experts whose role is to help farmers to improve the farming techniques, a move that will result in the continuous increase of the harvests.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank our Korean partners for their continuous support to this District. We have seen the positive impact and we are sure this will improve the living conditions of our citizens.” Mureshyankwano said.

She urged citizens to be active and responsible for their socio-economic development.